Kenneth Kobani, Rivers state Secretary to the Government (SSG) has been charged with electoral offences; breaching of public peace and terrorism. Kobani was arraigned by the Department of State Security (DSS) at a Federal High Court in Port Harcourt. According to Vanguard, he was charged on three counts over misconduct during the last re-run elections in Rivers state.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had proposed that the Rivers state re-run elections would take place on March 19, 2016. However, the polls were flawed by the killings and injuries inflicted on the voters; a young man, Samuel Okonta lost his life to this violence. Okonta was a National Youth Corps member recruited by INEC to assist at the polls. He was reportedly shot by gunmen after he had submitted the election results.

Okonta’s case was just one of other deaths recorded in Rivers state during the re-run. This prompted INEC to cancel the subsequent results, and a judicial commission of inquiry was set up to investigate the violence. The President also ordered security agencies to deal with those involved regardless of their party affiliation.

Justice Liman Mohammed of the Federal High Court sitting in Benin City had earlier listed Kobani’s charges as follows:

• Conspiracy – “That you Kenneth Kobani  with others at large on or about March 3 ,2016 at a meeting held in your residence at Bodo community , Gokana  local government did conspire to carry out activities that could cause the   breach of the peace and break down of law and order on the 19 March 2016 thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 516 of the criminal code act.”
• Breach of peace- “That you Kenneth Kobani  and others at large  on or about March 19 2016 at the premises of INEC office, Gokana LGA, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did conduct yourself in a manner that caused the breach of peace by leading and instructing your followers to barricade the entrance of the INEC office, prevent officials of the commission and other adhoc staff from discharging their duties and causing stampede in the vicinity thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249 d of the criminal code.”
• Terrorism – “On or about 19 March ,2016 at the premises of INEC office , Gokana LGA, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable court did hold Mr James Simon , an official of the commission and other adhoc staff hostage until their eventual rescue by security personnel, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 11 of the Terrorism prevention act 2011.”

The case has been adjourned till September 28, 2016.